Thursday, July 30, 2015

During the one year period of BJP Government, it may be clearly
felt that this Government has betrayed and cheated the workers and worked
against them curtailing their trade
union rights, wages and social security’s which were earned through sustained
struggles and sacrifices by them. Every action of Government is pro
capitalists, pro employers. Large scale amendments in labour laws are aimed to
benefit industrialists/employers to give them free hand to retrench/lay off
workers, declare closure/shutdown of establishment and resort to mass scale
contractorization.

The main object of these changes is
to do away with whatever minimal protection the workers are having under
present labour laws despite their large scale violations in connivance with the
state Governments. The present Central
Government does not want to implement the consensus
recommendations of 43rd, 44th and 45th Indian
Labour Conferences of formulation of
minimum wages, same wage and benefits as regular workers for the contract workers and granting status of workers with attendant benefits to
those employed in various Central Government schemes like Anganwadi, Midday
Meal, ASHA, Para Teachers etc. On the contrary the Government drastically
curtailed budget allocations to all those centrally sponsored schemes meant for
poor people’s welfare.

Beside these labour laws the Central
Government is also doing away the workers from social security schemes like,
EPF and ESI making them a optional aiming to dismantle the basic social
security cover available to organized sector.

The Government has not taken any
concrete measures to curb price rise of essential commodities. On universal
public distribution system, the Government is trying to scuttle it through
Direct Benefit transfer scheme resulting further squeeze on the common people,

After coming in Power this
Government declared total Ban on recruitment in all Central Government Services
causing large scale unemployment. 100% FDI in Railways, the biggest
establishment of Central Government has been declared and further projects will
be launched on PPP Model. Bigger and important stations will be given to
private parties to develop and take users charges causing more burden on common
man.49% FDI has also been declared in
Defence and 41 Ordnance Factories will
be privatized resulting more contractorization
of labour . Disinvestment has already been started in C.P.S.U.S. like
Coal India Ltd., NTPC and NHPC etc. Plan to corporatize Ports is also in
pipeline.

Whatever promises were made by
Modiji during election campaign. On all of those this Government has taken U
turn. Not a single promise is being fulfilled. Land acquisition act is also
being amended which will be against the interests of Farmers. No reasonable
minimum support price for the agriculture products and nothing to compensate
the loss of crops caused due to natural calamities.

In Central Services the New Pension
Scheme was introduced during the previous NDA Government and now
this Government also does not agree to
replace it by Defined benefit Pension Scheme causing more miseries to the
working people,

The demands of Central Government
Employees for grant of DA Merger, Interim Relief and date of effect of 7th
CPC recommendations from 01.01.2014 has also been rejected.

In Postal Department, Government is
moving ahead to corporatize various services based on the recommendations of
Task Force Committee headed by T.S.R Subramanian. The Department of Posts and
Government of India has still not taken any decision to include G.D.S. in 7th
CPC. The agreement and assurances made by the Postal Board during the course of
negotiations on PJCA Strike Charter of Demands are not being implemented.

So keeping all the facts in mind and
in pursuance of decision taken by All Central Trade Unions to go on ONE DAY
STRIKE on 2nd September-2015 , the National Executive of
Confederation and Federal Secretariat of NFPE
have also endorsed the decision
to resist the onslaughts on working class in the wake of neo-liberal Economic
Policies by participating in the strike.

NFPE appeals to all the affiliates
and entire rank and file to make maximum efforts for the grand success of ONE
DAY 2nd September-2015 Strike and defeat Anti People, Anti Working
Class Policies of Government of India.

Promotion and posting of a Senior
Administrative Grade (SAG) officer of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A' to
Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) of the Service - Order date 29.07.2015 (Click the link below for details)

Deputation of Ms. Smita Kumar
(IPoS-1987), CPMG, North East Circle as Joint Secretary, Department of
Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India. 2015 (Click the link below for details)

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

FORMER PRESIDENT A P J ABDUL KALAM PASSES AWAY. A BIG SALUTE TO THE
MISSILE MAN

News: Bharat Ratna APJ
Abdul Kalam Passed Away: Former Indian President Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam
(Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam) Passed Away today(27.07.2015). He was
reportedly collapsed on stage while giving a lecture at the Indian Institute of
Management in Shillong and immediately rushed to hospital. Doctors say he
suffered from a cardiac arrest.

Dr
Kalam was born in Rameswaram on October 15, 1931, to a boatman. He played a
pivotal role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear test in 1998, the first since the
test by India in 1974. He was known as Missile Man India for ensuring the
success of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). For his
achievements, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat
Ratna, and then he became the 11th President of India in 2002. He was THE BEST
and the ONLY president of India who inspired youth. His life itself is a
motivational lesson for the modern youth.

APJ Abdl Kalam : Timeline of Important Dates
:

1931 : A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born on 15th
October.

1954: Graduated from Saint Joseph's College,
Tiruchirappalli.

1955: Enrolled at the Madras Institute of
Technology to study aerospace engineering.

1960: Joined Aeronautical Development
Establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as a
chief scientist.

1969: Was transferred to the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO).

1981 : Honored with Padma Bhushan

1990 : Honored with Padma Vibhushan

1992-1999: Served as the Chief Scientific
Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of Defence Research and
Development Organisation.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Modification of paragraph 6 of the
guidelines dated 19.9.2014 of Inter-pool exchange between General Pool
Residential Accommodation and Departmental Pool and inter-pool transfer of
accommodation with General Pool in Delhi

No.12035/9/89-Pol.II
(Vol.II)

Government of India

Ministry of Urban
Development

Directorate of Estates

Nirman Bhavan,

New Delhi-110 108.

Dated the 20th July,
2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Modification of paragraph 6 of the guidelines dated 19.9.2014
of Inter-pool exchange between General Pool Residential Accommodation and
Departmental Pool and inter-pool transfer of accommodation with General Pool in
Delhi

The
undersigned is directed to refer to the Directorate of Estates O.M. of even
number dated 19.9.2014 vide which guidelines for Inter-pool exchange between
General pool residential Accommodation and Departmental Pool and inter-pool
transfer of accommodation within General Pool in Delhi have been issued.

2.
The matter has been reviewed and
it has been decided by the competent authority to substitute the paragraph 6 of
the existing guidelines dated 19.9.2014 as below:

“6. Inter-pool exchange may be
allowed only in cases where a Department is offering a higher type of
accommodation from its Pool in lieu of lower type of accommodation of General
Pool in respect of Type I to VI(Special) accommodation. However, in respect of
exchange of Type V and above accommodation, inter-pool exchange may be allowed
if the same or higher type of accommodation is offered by the Department from
its Pool in lieu of the type of accommodation in General Pool.”

3.
All other terms and conditions
laid down in the guidelines dated 19.9.2014 will remain unchanged.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

RECOMMENDATIONS & CONCLUSIONS

46th SESSION
OF I.L.C.

CONCLUDING
SESSION OF 46TH I LC

The 46th session of
India Labour Conference concluded yesterday at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi where
the recommendations and conclusions were adopted on 5 chosen agenda items after
the at length tripartite deliberations which lasted 2 days.

In his concluding remarks, the chairman of the ILC and Labour and
Employment Minister of state (Independent Charge) , Shri Bandaru Dattatreya
reiterated his Governments commitment to reform process with tripartite
consensus to promote the employment generation at a massive scale particularly
for the aspiring youth population of this country. The consensus
conclusions/recommendations on each of the agenda items are reproduced here:

Implementation of the conclusions/ recommendations of the 43rd, 44th and
45th Indian labour conference, particularly on contract labour, Minimum wages
and scheme workers and tripartite mechanism Conclusions of the committee are as
follows:-

The committee debated the recommendations of the 43rd, 44th and 45th
Indian labour conference at length and expressed its concern over
non-implementation of the conclusions, particularly on contract labour, Minimum
wages, scheme workers and tripartism. It was therefore unanimously recommended
that concrete measures should be undertaken to expeditiously implement the
recommendations in letter and spirit. Periodic reviews should be undertaken by
the stakeholders.

Recommendations of conference committee on “social security for
organized, unorganized and migrant International workers”

There was an in-principle agreement for coverage of all workers
organized as well as unorganized under social security with support wage by
Government, if required, for providing decent living conditions. The committee
recommended that:

I. Mechanism for identification
and registration of unorganized workers should be provided. Special drive
should be launched for the said purpose and, if required, direct registration
by the Government.

II. Schemes for organized/
unorganized workers should be made efficient.

III. Budgetary provisions
should be made for those unorganized workers who are not covered under any specific
social security scheme.

IV. The cost of
registration of unorganized workers should be borne by the Central/ State Government.

V. There should be proper
utilization of fund collected through building construction cess and administrative
expensed should not be for what is not stipulated.

VI.
The Anganwadi/ Asha/ Mid-day meal and other such workers, the
committee reiterated that they should
be extended coverage under ESI/ EPF.

VII.
As regards ESIC, the following recommendations were given:-

a.
ESIC to expand to cover all states/ UTs. All districts where scheme is
running at present should be covered fully/

b.
The ESIC scheme to be expanded to unorganized sector by reducing the
threshold form present 10. Self employed
should be provided medical benefit, in phases.

c.
The ESIC should directly run the health services in all the states.
Stated should not be asked to bear the cost of Medical expenses.

d.
Medical Facilities should be expanded at a fast pace; establishments of
hospitals and dispensaries should be decided based on geographical necessity.

e.
All construction workers should be covered under ESI.

f.
ESI coverage for round the clock for medical benefit.

VIII.
As regards EPF, recommendations were:-

a.
Medical Scheme to EPS pensioners from the surplus Corpus of EDLI Scheme.

b.
Extension of coverage by reducing threshold form 20 to 10. ‘Member of
LUB opposed this’

c.
Coverage of both inter-state and international migrant workers under EPF
Act.

d.
EPF pension should be enhanced and linked with price index.

IX.
Wages definition should be uniform for all labour laws.

X.
There should be a mechanism so that employers can deposit social
security contributions at single window.

XI.
For construction workers, there should be a single contribution from
employer.

XII.
Implementation of the decisions taken by 43rd, 44th and 45th ILC with
regard to Social Security.

However, on the point of optional schemes for ESI & EPF, the
employee’s representatives strongly opposed whereas the employers
representatives were of the view that options should be available.

Removal of Conditions on
payment Ceiling eligibility Limits, Decisions to pay Minimum Bonus without
linking to loss when the performance indicator satisfy grant of bonus- The
major conclusions emanating from the discussions in the committee are as follows:

The Conference committee on amendment of Bonus Act – Removal of
Conditions on Payment Ceiling, Eligibility Limits. Decisions to pay Minimum
Bonus without linking to loss when the performance indicator satisfy grant of
bonus constituted to discuss the Agenda item No. 3 of 46th session of the
Indian Labour Conference met under the chairmanship of Captain Abhimanyu,
Minister of Labour, Govt. of Haryana. Shri Om Prakash Mittal, General
Secretary, Laghu Udyog Bharti (LUB) and Ms. Meenakshi Gupta and Mr. B.B.
Mallick, Joint Secretary, MoLE respectively were the Vice-Cheirman and Member
Secretary of the Committee. The Committee had the representation of all the
stake-holders (Workers’ Group, Employers’ Group and State Government).

2.
At the very outset, the chairman of the committee welcomed all the
representatives. He observed that the issue of bonus has been pending for long.
He expressed the hope that all the partners would understand and appreciate the
position of each other and give recommendations keeping in the view the larger
national interest. The Vice-Chairman also welcomed all the Members. Thereafter,
the Member Secretary introduced the subject. The agenda has following 3
issues:-

(i). Removal of calculation ceiling;

(ii).
Removal of Eligibility
Limit; and

(iii). Decisions to pay Minimum Bonus
without Linking to loss when the performance indicator satisfy grant of bonus.

3. It was mentioned that last revision in
the limits (Calculation Ceiling – Rs. 3500 and Eligibility Limit-RS. 10,000)
was done in 2007 based on the recommendations of the 41st ILC.

4.
The committee had very intense detailed discussions on all the aspects
of the Agenda Item no. 3.

(i). The Trade Unions were of the view
that all the ceilings under the payment of Bonus Act. 1965 i.e. eligibility
ceiling, calculation ceiling and maximum percent of bonus payable need to be
removed. They further expressed that they would like to reiterate the stand
taken by them in the tripartite meeting held on 20 October, 2014.

(ii). The Employers,
representatives were of the view that total removal of various ceilings may
lead to spurt in industrial relation issues. They observed that while making
any change in the payment of Bonus Act, 1965 productivity of the workers and
paying capacity of the employers have to be taken into account. They further
observed that they are not in favour of indexation of cost of living for the
purpose of ceiling and bonus calculation. The term ‘Employee’ should be
substituted by the term ‘workman’ as defined under the industrial disputes Act.
The present system of prescribing limits both for eligibility and calculation
should be retained.

(iii). The State Government
representatives were of the view that minimum, limit of bonus (8.33%) may
continue. Regarding limits with regard to calculation and payment ceiling it
was stated that they had no comments to offer. They further observed that
distinction between statutory bonus and productivity linked bonus is quite
relevant in this regard.

(iv). The State Government
representatives also suggested that the central Government may consider
notifying the limits for eligibility of bonus and calculation of bonus through
and administrative process based on tripartite mechanism rather then
legislative process every time. Appropriate amendment to the payment of Bonus
Act, 1965 may have to be carried out accordingly.

Labour laws Amendments proposed/ done by
central or State Governments Conclusions of the committee are as follows:-

1. The
committee reiterates historical role of tripartite mechanism functioning in the
country before any enactment/ amendment of labour laws.

2.
Any labour law amendments/ enactment should take into account three
purpose namely:

(i). Rights and welfare of workers;

(ii). Sustainability of
enterprises and job creation; and

(iii). Industrial peace.

3.
The labour laws need to be relooked and updated in a time bound manner.

4.
Committee recommends that the overall exercise of the labour law
amendments should be discussed in the tripartite forum and the broad and
specific proposals should also be discussed in tripartite meetings.

Recommendations of committee on “Employment and Employment
Generation” of 46 the Indian Labour conference (ILC) are as follows:-

1.
The committee noted that the recommendations of 43rd to 45th ILC on
Employment & Employability need to be fully implemented.

2.
Recognising the employment potential in micro and small industry,
especially in rural areas, an effective single-window system be established to
promoted agro-based and micro & small industries with facility like
concessional finance etc. A system for centralized marketing of products
manufactured by these industries can also be developed.

3.
Enhance the outlays and threshold for public employment generation
programmes in both rural and urban areas.

4.
Fill up vacant posts in Central Government, State Governments and Public
Sector Undertakings in a time bound manner.

6.
With Central and State Government moving to on-line systems for
employment exchanges there is a need for capacity building of Employment
Exchanges officers for their revised roles under National Career Service (NCS).
Need for integration of Central and State IT initiatives to avoid duplication.

Kindly
refer to the discussion held in the meeting on 30.04.2015 on PJCA Strike
Charter of Demands. There is no remarkable progress on most of the items.

­­­­­­­

Though all items are important but two items are most important
which are mentioned below and the reply given by the Department is also
reproduced below:

Item -2Inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) in the
terms of reference of 7th
Central Pay Commission. Grant of civil
servant status to GDS and grant of
all benefits of departmental employees on pro-rata basis without any discrimination.

Reply: It was decided that the
proposal will be strongly recommended and referred
to D/o Expenditure for reconsideration. (Action
DDG (Estt)

Item. 9: Implement cadre
restructuring in postal, RMS, MMS and Postal Accounts
as per the proposal signed with the JCM (DC) staff side

Reply: The proposal for cadre restructuring of Gr.
‘C’ employees, will be sent to DOP&T
next week. The proposal for MMS and DAP
will be sent to DOP&T within
a period of two months. (ActionDDG (Estt) / DDG(PAF)

But
it is very sorry to say that no progress is reported on the both items. It is
learnt that 7th CPC is now preparing report and may submit its
report to Finance Ministry upto 31s
August, 2015 and its report will be implemented w.e.f. 01.01.2016. But there
is no response about inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC.
The poor GDS employees are eagerly waiting the favourable decision but it
appears that they are being deprived from their basic rights and natural justice.

Similar is the position of Cadre Restructuring. After lapse
of three months period there is no response from Department. During the meeting
it was assured that cadre restructuring will be implemented before 31st
July 2015 though later it was not mentioned in the minutes. If the Cadre
restructuring proposal is not implemented before 7th CPC report, the
entire process will go in vain and Postal employees will be deprived from their
benefit.

It is therefore requested to kindly bestow your personal
attention on the matters and cause early redressal of the grievances to maintain
co-ordial relations between staff and administration failing which the unions
will be compelled to launch agitational programmes.